Efficient wheel

ABSTRACT

An electrical passenger car, the car including: an electrically driven motor; and wheels, where the wheels include a first wheel, a second wheel, a third wheel, and a fourth wheel, where the first wheel and the second wheel have a radius 20 percent larger than the third wheel and the fourth wheel, where the electrical passenger car includes a total weight, where the electrical passenger car includes a center of gravity designed so that greater than 50% of said total weight will be over the first wheel and the second wheel, and where the electrical passenger car is designed to travel for a greater distance for the same axial to wheel friction energy loss than a passenger car having wheels of a smaller radius.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of Invention

This application relates to the general field of automotive design,function and ornamentation.

2. Discussion of Background Art

Automotive designs have included wheels for many years with littleregard for fuel efficiency. However, as the global oil resources becomeconsumed, and political factors continue to make gasoline pricing high,there is a need for a more efficient automobile. There is a need for amore fuel efficient design of the wheel.

SUMMARY

The invention may be directed to automotive wheel design, generally forpassenger cars.

In one aspect, an electrical family car, comprising: an electricallydriven motor; and wheels with a radius larger than 90 cm.

In another aspect, an electrical family car, comprising: an electricallydriven motor; and wheels with a radius larger than 90 cm, electricalsteering, wherein said wheels comprise a first wheel and a second wheel,and wherein said electrical steering comprises independently controllinga first speed.

In another aspect, an electrical family car, comprising: an electricallydriven motor; and wheels with a radius larger than 90 cm, wherein atleast one of said wheels comprises a wave shape profile.

In another aspect, an electrical family car, comprising: an electricallydriven motor; and wheels with a radius larger than 90 cm, wherein saidcar comprises at least one hybrid driving system.

In another aspect, an electrical family car, comprising: an electricallydriven motor; and wheels with a radius larger than 90 cm, wherein saidwheels comprise a first wheel, a second wheel, a third wheel, and afourth wheel, and wherein said first wheel and said second wheel have aradius 20 percent larger than said third wheel and said fourth wheel

In another aspect, an electrical family car, comprising: an electricallydriven motor; and wheels with a radius larger than 90 cm, wherein atleast one of said wheels has a radius that is at least three timeslarger than its width.

In another aspect, an electrical family car, comprising: an electricallydriven motor; wheels; and electrical steering, wherein said wheelscomprise a first wheel and a second wheel, and wherein said electricalsteering comprises independently controlling a first speed of said firstwheel and independently controlling a second speed of said second wheel.

In another aspect, an electrical family car, comprising: an electricallydriven motor; wheels; and electrical steering, wherein said wheelscomprise a first wheel and a second wheel, and wherein said electricalsteering comprises independently controlling a first speed of said firstwheel and independently controlling a second speed of said second wheel,wherein at least one of said wheels has a radius larger than 90 cm.

In another aspect, an electrical family car, comprising: an electricallydriven motor; wheels; and electrical steering, wherein said wheelscomprise a first wheel and a second wheel, and wherein said electricalsteering comprises independently controlling a first speed of said firstwheel and independently controlling a second speed of said second wheel,wherein at least one of said wheels has a wave shape profile.

In another aspect, an electrical family car, comprising: an electricallydriven motor; wheels; and electrical steering, wherein said wheelscomprise a first wheel and a second wheel, and wherein said electricalsteering comprises independently controlling a first speed of said firstwheel and independently controlling a second speed of said second wheel,wherein said car comprises at least one hybrid driving system.

In another aspect, an electrical family car, comprising: an electricallydriven motor; wheels; and electrical steering, wherein said wheelscomprise a first wheel and a second wheel, and wherein said electricalsteering comprises independently controlling a first speed of said firstwheel and independently controlling a second speed of said second wheel,wherein said wheels comprise a first wheel, a second wheel, a thirdwheel, and a fourth wheel, and wherein said first wheel and said secondwheel have a radius 20 percent larger than said third wheel and saidfourth wheel.

In another aspect, an electrical family car, comprising: an electricallydriven motor; wheels; and electrical steering, wherein said wheelscomprise a first wheel and a second wheel, and wherein said electricalsteering comprises independently controlling a first speed of said firstwheel and independently controlling a second speed of said second wheel,wherein at least one of said wheels has a radius that is at least threetimes larger than its width.

In another aspect, an electrical family car, comprising: an electricallydriven motor; wheels, wherein at least one of said wheels has a waveshape profile.

In another aspect, an electrical family car, comprising: an electricallydriven motor; wheels, wherein at least one of said wheels has a waveshape profile, wherein at least one of said wheels has a radius largerthan 90 cm.

In another aspect, an electrical family car, comprising: an electricallydriven motor; wheels, wherein at least one of said wheels has a waveshape profile, electrical steering, wherein said wheels comprise a firstwheel and a second wheel, and wherein said electrical steering comprisesindependently controlling a first speed of said first wheel andindependently controlling a second speed of said second wheel.

In another aspect, an electrical family car, comprising: an electricallydriven motor; wheels, wherein at least one of said wheels has a waveshape profile, wherein said car comprises at least one hybrid drivingsystem.

In another aspect, an electrical family car, comprising: an electricallydriven motor; wheels, wherein at least one of said wheels has a waveshape profile, wherein said wheels comprise a first wheel, a secondwheel, a third wheel, and a fourth wheel, and wherein said first wheeland said second wheel have a radius 20 percent larger than said thirdwheel and said fourth wheel.

In another aspect, an electrical family car, comprising: an electricallydriven motor; wheels, wherein at least one of said wheels has a waveshape profile, wherein at least one of said wheels has a radius that isat least three times larger than its width.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various embodiments of the invention will be understood and appreciatedmore fully from the following detailed description, taken in conjunctionwith the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an exemplary drawing illustration of a left side view ofefficient wheels on a vehicle;

FIG. 2 is an exemplary drawing illustration of a right side view ofefficient wheels on a vehicle;

FIG. 3 is an exemplary drawing illustration of a bottom view ofefficient wheels on a vehicle;

FIG. 4 is an exemplary drawing illustration of a top view of efficientwheels on a vehicle;

FIG. 5 is an exemplary drawing illustration of a back view of efficientwheels on a vehicle;

FIG. 6 is an exemplary drawing illustration of a front view of efficientwheels on a vehicle;

FIG. 7 is an exemplary drawing illustration of a left side view ofefficient wheels on a vehicle depicting measures;

FIG. 8 is an additional exemplary drawing illustration of a left sideview of efficient wheels on a vehicle depicting measures;

FIG. 9 is an exemplary drawing illustration of a bottom side view ofefficient wheels on a vehicle depicting measures;

FIG. 10 is an additional exemplary drawing illustration of a left sideview of efficient wheels on a vehicle depicting measures;

FIG. 11A is an exemplary drawing illustration of a bottom view ofconventional profile wheels on a vehicle;

FIG. 11B is an exemplary drawing illustration of a bottom view of novelprofile wheels on a vehicle;

FIG. 12A is an exemplary drawing illustration of a side view of wheelson a vehicle; and

FIG. 12B is an additional exemplary drawing illustration of a side viewof efficient wheels on a vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the invention are described herein with reference to thedrawing figures. Persons of ordinary skill in the art will appreciatethat the description and figures illustrate rather than limit theinvention and that in general the figures are not drawn to scale forclarity of presentation. Such skilled persons will also realize thatmany more embodiments are possible by applying the inventive principlescontained herein and that such embodiments fall within the scope of theinvention which is not to be limited except by the appended claims.

Currently electric motor driven cars, either as hybrid or full electricvehicles, are becoming popular. In such cars one of the dominatingenergy losses is directly related to the car axial to wheel friction.The car efficiency could therefore be increased by increasing the carwheel diameter which could yield a larger traveling distance (about ad)for the same axial to wheel friction related energy loss. This isespecially applicable for the common passenger car which is designed tooperate on paved roads. Accordingly it could be desired to have the carefficient wheel diameter at least about 20% larger than the averagewheel diameter of similar sized common passenger cars, or even greaterthan about 40%, or greater than about 60%, or greater than about 80% oreven more than double the size of a common passenger car designed tooperate on a paved road, such as, for example, highways or commonstreets.

A very large wheel diameter could make the design of the car morechallenging, for example, for the front wheels which need room forsteering. In the following some alternatives are presented to helpovercome this challenge. One alternative it to use differential wheelspeed as an alternative to mechanical steering. Another alternative isto have regular wheels for the front using conventional mechanicalsteering and having the large wheels only for the rear wheels. For theequal wheel size to be even more effective, the car could be designed sothe rear wheels will carry a bigger portion of the car weight.Preferably 60% of the car weight or 70% or even more than 75% of the carweight. Computer control of the traction, braking and turning may beneeded to ensure stability during turns and braking. As well, rear wheelassisted turning may need to be provided.

Many electric motor cars use more than a single motor to drive the car.In many of these vehicles the car steering could leverage the electroniccontrol of the wheel speed. Such speed and wheel controlled steeringcould assist the use of very large wheels, thus increasing the overallcar traveling distance per the same energy use.

Some drawing figures may describe various views of the invention orportions of the invention. These views may have many structures,numerals and labels that may be common between two or more adjacentdrawings. In such cases, some labels, numerals and structures used for acertain view's figure may have been described in the previous views'figures.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a left side view of efficient wheels on avehicle, may include a front left efficient wheel 100, a rear leftefficient wheel 101, and a vehicle 199. Vehicle 199 may also include avehicle front 198. In this document, wheels may include the tire.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, a right side view of efficient wheels on avehicle, may include a front right efficient wheel 203, a rear rightefficient wheel 204, and a vehicle 299. Vehicle 299 may also include avehicle front 298.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, a bottom view of efficient wheels on avehicle, may include a front left efficient wheel 300, a rear leftefficient wheel 301, a front right efficient wheel 303, a rear rightefficient wheel 304, and a vehicle 399. Vehicle 399 may also include avehicle front 398 and wheel axles 395.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, a top view of efficient wheels on a vehicle,may include a front left fender 410, a rear left fender 411, a frontright fender 413, a rear right fender 414, and a vehicle 499. Vehicle499 may also include a vehicle front 498. Front left fender 410, a rearleft fender 411, a front right fender 413, a rear right fender 414 maycover their respective efficient wheels referenced in the Figuresherein.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, a rear view of efficient wheels on a vehicle,may include a rear left efficient wheel 501, a rear right efficientwheel 504, and a vehicle 599. In this view, fenders or the body designof car 599 may only cover a small portion of the rear left efficientwheel 501 and rear right efficient wheel 504.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, a front view of efficient wheels on a vehicle,may include a front left efficient wheel 601, a front right efficientwheel 603, a front left fender 610, a front right fender 613, and avehicle 599. In this view, fenders such as front left fender 610 andfront right fender 613 of car 599 may cover a portion of the front leftefficient wheel 501 and front right efficient wheel 504 respectively.The fenders of the car may also completely cover the efficient wheels ofthe car.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, a left side view of efficient wheels on avehicle, may include a front left efficient wheel 700, a rear leftefficient wheel 701, a front passenger door 740, a rear passenger door750, and a vehicle 799. Vehicle 799 may also include a vehicle front798. Front passenger door 740 may have front passenger door width 741,which may be defined as the distance from the lock point to the axialdoor line. Similarly, rear passenger door 750 may have a rear passengerdoor width, similarly defined (not shown for drawing clarity). Efficientwheels may have a diameter, for example, rear left efficient wheel 701may have wheel diameter 746. Efficient wheel diameter 746 may be equalto or greater than the length of the larger of the front or rear doorside size of a consumer passenger car. For example, efficient wheeldiameter 746 may be equal to or greater than front passenger door width741.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, a left side view of efficient wheels on avehicle, may include a front left efficient wheel 800, a rear leftefficient wheel 801, front passenger door 840, a rear passenger door850, and a vehicle 899. Vehicle 899 may also include a vehicle front898. Front passenger door 840 may have front passenger door height 842,which may be defined as the distance from the front door bottom line tothe beginning of the window line. Similarly, rear passenger door 850 mayhave a rear passenger door height, similarly defined (not shown fordrawing clarity). Efficient wheels may have a diameter, for example,rear left efficient wheel 801 may have efficient wheel diameter 846.Efficient wheel diameter 846 may be equal to or greater than the lengthof the larger of the front or rear door height of a consumer passengercar. For example, efficient wheel diameter 846 may be equal to orgreater than front passenger door height 842.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, a bottom view of efficient wheels on avehicle, may include a front left efficient wheel 900, a rear leftefficient wheel 901, a front right efficient wheel 903, a rear rightefficient wheel 904, and a vehicle 999. Vehicle 999 may also include avehicle front 998 and wheel axles 995. Efficient wheels may have awidth, for example, front left efficient wheel 900 and rear leftefficient wheel 901 may have wheel width 960. Efficient wheels may havea wheel width larger than about 12 cm, or about 13 cm, or about 14 cm,or about 15 cm, or about 16 cm. For example, wheel width 960 may begreater than about 12 cm, or about 13 cm, or about 14 cm, or about 15cm, or about 16 cm.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, a left side view of efficient wheels on avehicle, may include a front left efficient wheel 1000, a rear leftefficient wheel 1001, front passenger door 1040, a rear passenger door1050, and a vehicle 1099. Vehicle 1099 may also include a vehicle front1098. Efficient wheels may have a diameter, for example, rear leftefficient wheel 1001 may have efficient wheel diameter 1046. Fenders mayhave a wheel cover spacing 1062, which may be defined as the distancefrom the top of the wheel, for example front left efficient wheel 1000,to the bottom of the associated fender/wheel cover car body at the verytop of the wheel. Similarly, wheel cover spacing 1062 may be definedutilizing the rear wheel(s) and the rear fender(s) (not shown fordrawing clarity). Wheel cover spacing may be smaller than about 15%, orsmaller than about 20%, or smaller than about 25%, or smaller than about10% of the efficient wheel diameter. For example, wheel cover spacing1062 may be smaller than about 15%, or smaller than about 20%, orsmaller than about 25%, or smaller than about 10% of efficient wheeldiameter 1046.

Another aspect of such a large wheeled car relates to steeringalternatives. The most common car steering is achieved by steering thewheels forming an angle between the front wheel direction and theremainder of the car; the car and the back wheel direction. For a largewheel (efficient wheel) as has been described herein this would requirea large space ‘under the hood’. An inventive embodiment herein is toprovide for a different speed between the wheels to steer the car.Similar techniques are used with tanks and some other heavy equipment.In many electric cars there are multiple drive motors and in some casesthose drive motors may be embedded in the wheel. In such a car thedifferential car steering could be done by electrical control saving theneed for steering mechanics. Such could reduce mechanics parts, carweight, and increase car steering capability especially at very lowspeed when one wheel could be held substantially still or close tostill, and only the other wheel is rotating achieving extremely smallturning radius. The other wheel could be on the same axle, or may be ona different axle than the held wheel.

Another alternative relates to the wheel profile. Conventional cars, forexample such as consumer passenger cars, may use wheels with a verysimple profile as is illustrated in FIG. 11A, which is a view from thebottom of the car. Conventionally profiled wheels 1101 may have asubstantially rectangular profile when viewed from below, and car 1199may include 4 conventionally profiled wheels 1101.

For a very large wheel an alternative is to use a shape profile asillustrated in FIG. 11B, which is a view from the bottom of the car.Such wheels could be lighter yet with very good road grabbing and lowersticking. Novel profiled wheels 1103 may have a substantially novelprofile when viewed from below, and car 1199 may include 4 novelprofiled wheels 1103. Car 1199 may include a combination ofconventionally and novel profiled wheels (not shown).

FIG. 12A illustrates a conventional sports car with all wheels havingsubstantially the same size. Another alternative is to have the frontwheel and the back wheel different sizes as illustrated in FIG. 12B,which is the car fitted with large wheels and uneven sizes. Some carsmay have the weight unevenly spread between the front wheel and theback; thus, it could be preferred to have a very large wheel for theheavy side and smaller wheels for the lighter side. Such a larger wheelcould have more than about 5% or more than about 10% or more than about20% larger diameter than the small wheel.

It will also be appreciated by persons of ordinary skill in the art thatthe invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown anddescribed hereinabove. For example, drawings or illustrations may notshow details of automobile construction or design for clarity inillustration. Further, combinations and sub-combinations of the variousfeatures described hereinabove may be utilized. Rather, the scope of theinvention includes both combinations and sub-combinations of the variousfeatures described hereinabove as well as modifications and variationswhich would occur to such skilled persons upon reading the foregoingdescription.

I claim:
 1. An electrical passenger car, the electrical passenger carcomprising: an electrically driven motor; and wheels, wherein saidwheels comprise a first wheel, a second wheel, a third wheel, and afourth wheel, wherein said first wheel and said second wheel have aradius 20 percent larger than said third wheel and said fourth wheel,wherein said electrical passenger car comprises a total weight, whereinsaid electrical passenger car comprises a center of gravity designed sothat greater than 50% of said total weight will be over said first wheeland said second wheel, and wherein said electrical passenger car isdesigned to travel for a greater distance for the same axial to wheelfriction energy loss than a similar electrical passenger car havingwheels of a smaller radius.
 2. The electrical passenger car according toclaim 1, further comprising: electrical steering, wherein saidelectrical steering comprises independently controlling a first speed ofsaid first wheel and independently controlling a second speed of saidsecond wheel.
 3. The electrical passenger car according to claim 1,wherein at least one of said wheels comprises a wave shape profile, andwherein said at least one of said wheels comprises at least a portion ofwheel contact with a road being solely diagonal with respect to adriving direction of the electrical passenger car.
 4. The electricalpassenger car according to claim 1, wherein said electrical passengercar comprises at least one non-electric motor.
 5. The electricalpassenger car according to claim 1, wherein said first wheel and saidsecond wheel have a radius larger than 90 cm.
 6. The electricalpassenger car according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said wheelshas a radius which is at least three times larger than its width.
 7. Anelectrical passenger car, the electrical passenger car comprising: anelectrically driven motor; wheels; and electrical steering, wherein saidwheels comprise a first wheel and a second wheel, wherein saidelectrical steering comprises independently controlling a first speed ofsaid first wheel and independently controlling a second speed of saidsecond wheel, and wherein said electrical passenger car is designed totravel for a greater distance for the same axial to wheel frictionenergy loss than a similar electrical passenger car having wheels of asmaller radius.
 8. The electrical passenger car according to claim 7,wherein at least one of said wheels has a radius larger than 90 cm. 9.The electrical passenger car according to claim 7, wherein at least oneof said wheels has a wave shape profile, wherein said at least one ofsaid wheels comprises at least a portion of wheel contact with a roadbeing solely diagonal with respect to the driving direction of theelectrical passenger car.
 10. The electrical passenger car according toclaim 7, wherein said electrical passenger car comprises at least onenon-electric motor.
 11. The electrical passenger car according to claim7, wherein said wheels also comprise a third wheel, and a fourth wheel,and wherein said first wheel and said second wheel have a radius atleast 20 percent greater than said third wheel and said fourth wheel.12. The electrical passenger car according to claim 7, wherein at leastone of said wheels has a radius that is at least three times larger thanits width.
 13. The electrical passenger car according to claim 7,wherein said electrical passenger car is designed to drive on a pavedroad.
 14. An electrical passenger car, the electrical passenger carcomprising: an electrically driven motor; and wheels, wherein at leastone of said wheels has a wave shape profile, wherein said at least oneof said wheels comprises at least a portion of wheel contact with a roadbeing solely diagonal with respect to the driving direction of theelectrical passenger car, and wherein at least one of said wheels has aradius larger than 90 cm.
 15. The electrical passenger car according toclaim 14, further comprising: electrical steering, wherein said wheelscomprise a first wheel and a second wheel, and wherein said electricalsteering comprises independently controlling a first speed of said firstwheel and independently controlling a second speed of said second wheel.16. The electrical passenger car according to claim 14, wherein saidelectrical passenger car comprises at least one non-electric motor. 17.The electrical passenger car according to claim 14, wherein said wheelscomprise a first wheel, a second wheel, a third wheel, and a fourthwheel, and wherein said first wheel and said second wheel have a radiusat least 20 percent greater than said third wheel and said fourth wheel.18. The electrical passenger car according to claim 14, wherein at leastone of said wheels has a radius that is at least three times larger thanits width.
 19. The electrical passenger car according to claim 14,wherein said electrical passenger car is designed to operate efficientlyon a paved road, wherein said designed to operate efficiently comprisessaid electrical passenger car comprising a wheel diameter which is atleast 20% greater than the average wheel diameter of similar sizedelectrical passenger cars.
 20. The electrical passenger car according toclaim 14, wherein said electrical passenger car is designed to travelfor a greater distance for the same axial to wheel friction energy lossthan a similar electrical passenger car having wheels of a smallerradius.